The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-04-07
relic of ancient Chi
LONG JOHN wENTwoR7

ldhe anu Jne river,
that was not destroyed in the big fire. The
old man says the fire has not yet been kindled
that will burn him, but opinions differ on this
score.
Long John and Chicago have grown up to-
gether Both are big and saucy, trife
wicked, considerably comceited, inclined tn
brag, and quite rich. I am sure that in or Q
respect at least the history of civilizatit II
affords no parallel to the case of Long JOHN
He, alone of all the great men of the earth,
has lived to see his adopted city grow froIu a
mere town Of $500 souls to a great metroI oils
of threequarters of million.
During all these fifty years Long John has
been one Of the most conspicuous figures in
Chicago. giant in stature-he measures
six feet six and weighs 800 pounds-he has
also been tine possessor Of vast influence. He
was twice mayor, was in congress four years,
edited a newspaper a number of years, was a
favOrite public speaker a rich real estate
owner, a celebrated story teller, the chief of
the old settlers, a recognized authority on all
matters historical, and great man generally.
Long John is and always has been a pict-
uresque character. His stature, his loud
voice, his loquacity, his story telling, his self
concet, his brecZiness and sensationalism as n
public speaker and public officer, have so
spread his fame that visitors TO Chicago from
all parts of the Union have for years and
years asked to have him pointed out to them.
Somewhat of a demagogue as a politician,
and knowing how to tickle the ears of the
masses, Long John was forever preaching
"liberty and economy" These were his pass
-Or,,lE nd hp =
everywhere. When first mayor, in 1857, he
introduced the first fire engine ever seen in
this burg. OF course it was named the
"Long john" and still exists, 1 believe. in
some old barn Of the fire department.
During his next term he introduced
two more fire engines, and they were named
respectively "Liberty" and ECONOMY" As
mayor, Wentworth was always doing some
thing sensational. One night he set the
whole police force at work collecting signs
which were hung over the sidewalks contrary
to law. These signs were piled up in the
market square, and by morning there was q
stack of them as big as a meeting house.
This incident attracted attention all over the
country, and only the other day happened
on twO-page picture of the market square
full of signs, printed in a contemporaneous
Leslie. A queer picture it was, too Another
of Long Johns pranks was the discharge of
the whole police force, from chief down to
lookup keeper, at one fell swoop. This was
done at ! o'clock of a morning, and by noon
next day he had a new force sworn in and
at work.
AS a politician he was a slap 'em-on-the-
back, tell-'em-a-story, inquire-after-the-b baby
sort of fellow, and a bad man to fight. Our
new senator, Farwell, knows this only too
well. Farwell and Wentworth were once ri
val candidates for congress. In n speech Far
well had said something about Wentworth's
fondness for whisky, and this reaching the
old settlers ears he retaliated in q novel and
effective manneR At his next meeting he
took from his pockets pack of cards and a
lot of poker chips, and, throwing them one
by one among the audience, cried out that
those were the features of political economy
with which Poker Charley" Farwell was
most familiar. Of course a laugh followed
and from that day to this Farwell has been
called "Poker Charley Greatly to bis dis
gust, too, for a few weeks ago in speaking to
me of Long John he used more harsh words
than thought him capable of. Between our
oldest settler and our new senator there is n
bitter feud.
Hundreds Of stories are told about the rare
old man, some Of them of doubtful founda-
ton. have space for but one, which know
to be true one, because Long John himself
tells it. In the panic of 10 there was run
on Sol Smiths bank. At the height of the
excitement a ia ! form was seen moving down
the street, carrying an immense roll of bank
notes. 1t was Wentworth. To every one he
met be made the remark that Gle WANT
afraid, beg0sh, and was just goin' down to
make a deposit with Sol" The news spread
like willire. Arriving at the bank. Long
John lowered above the heads of the clamor-
Gus depOsitCrs, pushed men out of his way
with his gigantean arms, and called out:
you fellers want money. Stand back an
give me a chance l want to make deposit
Of $4,000, begosh."
In five minutes the "run" was over. and the
bank saved, though its rescuer now confesses
that in that roll of bank notes there was lust
one good bill, the outside one, all the others
being Confederate notes from his museum of
suriosities
Sightseers still ask for Long John and
often find him in the bar room at the Sher